Means for casting billets



Jan. 15, 1935.

A. J. WAKELIN MEANS FOR CASTING BILLETS Filed March 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l mwmfor- M M jofin If Mm.

A. J. WAKELIN MEANS FOR CASTING BILLETS Jan. 15, 1935.

Filed March 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jar. 15, 1935 ouirsn rates rarest QFFlQE Application March 22, 1934, Serial No. 716,863 in Great Britain December 15, 1932 4 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved method of and means for moulding billets. The object of my invention is to provide a method of casting billets which will obviate or reduce exposure of the molten metal or alloy to the atmosphere during transfer to the moulds, whereby oxidation of the metal or alloy is prevented or reduced. The invention is particularly useful for casting aluminum alloys intended to have high tensile and malleable properties as with such alloys it is desirable to eliminate as far as possible exposure of the molten metals to atmos phere.

The preferred form of my invention briefly comprises a cylindrical furnace chamber arranged in a substantially horizontal axis, means associated therewith for heating it, a conical outlet end thereto connected at one end by a conduit to a substantially coaxial mould, said conduit being divided into two parts engaged end to end in an airtight manner, means at the other end for rotating the furnace chamber, and means whereby the said mould and. furnace chamber may be tilted for removing the billet therefrom.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, I have appended hereto a sheet of drawings, illustrating an embodiment thereof, and wherein:-

Fig. l is a sectional side elevation.

Fig. is a sectional end elevation view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view and Fig. 4 is a rear end view.

Referring to the drawings, I provide a furnace chamber in the form of a longitudinal cylindrical tube 1 of suitable material adapted to with stand high temperatures. This cylindrical tube is formed with a conical outlet end 2 connected as at 2a to a tubular conduit or nozzle 3, the

other end being closed by a plate 4 and mounted on one end of a shaft 5 rotating on a horizontal axis in roller or other bearings 6, the conduit 3 rotating in bearings 6a in a suitable pedestal 7. This shaft can have a wheel or handle 8 for rotating it or a connection to a driving shaft on which are mounted fast and loose pulleys, such driving shaft being supported for rotation and axial sliding movement in bearings in the upper ends of a U-shapcd standard to enable it to be dis-connected from the aforementioned short shaft.

Disposed about the furnace is an insulating jacket 9 heavily lined with asbestos and carrying one or more lines or rings of fuel jets or gas burners indicated diagrammatically at 10 and adapted to heat the furnace chamber 1 which is spaced concentrically within said jacket. This jacket is stationary so that by rotating the aforementioned driving shaft the furnace chain her is heated uniformly circumferentially. A charging door may be formed in the side of said jacket and a door 11 in the furnace chamber is adapted to coincide therewith when a charging operation is to be effected. A screw plug cap 12 closing-member is provided with each said door. However, the preferred arrangement as shown the jacket 9 has an upper removable half secured to a fixed lower half by lugs 13 with bolts passed through them, or any other suitable clamping devices, the upper half having a central lug 14 whereby it may be connected to lifting tackle. Alternatively the jacket and furnace chamber can be connected so that they rotate as a single unit when only one door will be necessary for the furnace chamber and said jacket, a suitable stuffing box and gland and also a flexible connection to the gas or fuel supply main being provided to permit rotation and tilting of the jacket.

The conduit 3 connecting the furnace and mold is divided midway, the part extending from the furnace being formed with a cap or cross head 15 threaded therein and having extending therefrom a tapered or nozzle portion 16 fitting rotatably in the part 3a of the conduit extending from the mould 17 so that the mould does not rotate about its axis with the furnace. When, as hereinafter described, the chamber 1 is tilted to discharge its contents into the mould, the nozzle portion 16 is pressed tightly into the part 3a by bolts 18 pivoted to lugs 18a on the conduit 3 and engaged in slots 19 in lugs on the part but during rotation of the chamber 1 this coupling isnot effected, the mould carriage 21 being pressed towards the chamber 1 to effect frictional engagement of the nozzle 16 and part do by the belt 222, secured by a cotter to a bracket 23 on one end of an H or angle section frame 24: which carries the whole of the apparatus including a pair of rails 25 on which runs the mould carriage 21.

The frame 24: is secured to a bridge 26 pivoted by end lugs 27 to a pair of fixed pedestals 28, the point of pivot being as nearly as possible the point of balance of the apparatus. Any suitable gear may be provided for tilting the frame at to the desired angle to allow the molten metal to flow into the mould 17.

The mould 17 has end lugs or keys 29 of tapered form to effect a partial Weds ns gagement in hook like lugs 30 on the appropriate end of the carriage 21, stops 31 at the other end of the carriage forming abutments for the other end of the mould. By this means the mould will be held against falling endwise off the carriage, should it be forgotten to couple the parts of the conduit 3 before tilting, also the mould is free to be slid laterally from the car riage instead of running the carriage along the rails 25 to an unloading stage as might be necessary when dealing with heavy metals.

In order to remove scum which accumulates on top of the molten metal, it is preferred to provide a baffle plate 32, just in rear of the conical outlet end of the chamber 1. This bafile is preferably a replaceable element, and has its lower edge located in a plane which is just beneath the inner surface of the conduit 3, assuming that the chamber 1 is in a horizontal position ready to be tilted to pour these contents into the mould.

It will be understood that for normal purposes it is preferred that the level of molten metal in the chamber 1 should not be above the lowest point of the inner surface of the conduit 3, in order that all of the metal will be confined within the chamber 1 during fusing. However, if desired, the conduit 3 can be plugged at a suitable point during fusing operations and the connection to the mould effected after fusion, so that if desired the chamber 1 can be tilted below the mould during the coupling operation, and if desired during fusion, but in such an arrangement it would be desirable to be able to move the plug without admitting air to the chamber 1, and for this purpose a rotary type of plug could be employed.

The importance of the present invention consists in the fact that once the chamber 1 is loaded and closed it is completely sealed against admission of extraneous air and consequently oxidation of the metal cannot take place, more particularly if, in addition to the sealing device, and chamber 1 is charged with a carbon or partial carbon deoxidizing agent or any other suitable deoxidizing agent. It is preferred to provide with the cap 12 or other convenient member, a tube 33 in which can be inserted a pyrometer 34, the tube 33 being sealed against egress of gases from the chamber 1.

The normal practice would be to only charge the chamber 1 with a sufficient quantity of metal to fill the singlemould so that in the absence of a rotary or other suitable plug for closing the conduit 3 there would be no occasion to admit air to the chamber 1 when charged with molten metal, when removing the mould. If required, the mould may be provided with a pressure relief valve for the escape of air during the admission of molten metal to the mould. Also it is preferred to provide a pressure gauge 35 communicating with the interior of the chamber 1 by a conduit 36 in the shaft 5.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for meltin metals and casting them into billets comprising'a rotatable substantially cylindrical furnace chamber arranged in a substantially horizontal axis, means associated therewith for heating it, and for rotating it during heat treatment of the metal without discharging its contents, a conical outlet end thereto connected at one end by a conduit to a substantially co-axial mould, said conduit being divided into two parts engaged end to end in an air tight manner, and means whereby the said mould and furnace chamber may be tilted a single unit for pouring the metal from said chamber into the mould.

2. Apparatus for melting metal and casting it into billets, comprising amelting chamber, a mould, a conduit connecting the melting chamher to the mould for the transfer of molten metal to the mould, means for oscillating the melting chamber relatively to the mould during melting without discharging its contents, and means forming an air tight couple between the melting chamber and mould during transfer of the contents of said chamber to said mould, and tiltable means supporting said chamber and mould whereby they may be tilted as a single unit with said chamber above said mould.

3. Apparatus for melting metal and casting it into billets, comprising a rotatable melting chamber, a mould a conduit connecting the melting chamber to the mould for the transfer of molten metal to the mould, means for offecting rotation of the melting chamber 1ela tivcly to the mould during melting without discharge of its contents, and means forming an air tight couple between the melting chamber and mould during transfer of the contents of said chamber to said mould, means for skimming scum from the surface of the metal before it reaches the mould, and a common tiltable support for said chamber and mould for tilting the chamber above the mould.

4. Apparatus for melting metal and casting it into billets, comprising a rotatable melting chamber, a mould a conduit connecting melting chamber to the mould for the transfer of molten metal to the mould, means for effecting rotation of the melting chamber relatively to the mould during melting without discharge of its metal contents, and means forming an air tight couple between the melting chamber and mould during transfer of the contents of said chamber to said mould, an outer casing spaced from and disposed about said chamber, heating means inside said casing for fusing the metal, and a common articulated support for said chamber and mould for tilting the chamber and mould as a single unit.

ALFRED JOHN WAKELIN, 

